The Chicago Bears Won't Start Winning Until This Problem Is Solved

When the Chicago Bears have been at their best, it's always come on the shoulders of an all-time great player. Sure, the team had several great players during their most successful periods. However, there was always that one guy everything revolved around. They were not only the best player on the field but also the unquestioned leader in the locker room. That may sound simplistic, but it isn't. Think about the best runs of winning the organization had. It is easy to determine each time who the undeniable face of the franchise was.

• 1940s: Sid Luckman
• 1960s: Bill George
• 1980s: Walter Payton
• 2000s: Brian Urlacher

Yeah, the '40s had Bulldog Turner as well. The '60s had Doug Atkins and Mike Ditka. Mike Singletary and Dan Dan Hampton were there in the '80s. Lance Briggs and Olin Kreutz were there in the 2000s. Yet all those guys would likely tell you Luckman, George, Payton, and Urlacher were the anchors. Sadly, such a player hasn't emerged for the Bears in a long time. Justin Fields might be the closest they've been. He has the mixture of ridiculous athletic talent and gravitational leadership. Still, he hasn't reached that level on the field.

If the Bears want to become that perennial contender GM Ryan Poles always talks about, somebody of that caliber must emerge.

The Chicago Bears have the right approach in mind.

Poles has prioritized two things when identifying players: high character and high athleticism. He wants guys who love working hard and playing hard. A key difference from Ryan Pace is he puts even greater emphasis on elite athletic traits. That was more evident than ever with his latest draft class, which graded among the most athletic in the entire league. This tends to increase the odds of a team landing a franchise-altering player. It worked for the Kansas City Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Chris Jones.

Maybe Fields can be that guy for the Chicago Bears. He flashed that potential last season. Now he must take the next step in his development. Luckman wasn't great right away. That offers some hope. Still, championship teams are built on the shoulders of one great player. They act as the pillar around which everything is built. If Fields isn't that guy, then this regime must find him soon. Winning can't start until that happens. It's been a long enough drought.